Q: “I have been diagnosed with ME and wondered what I can do nutritionally to help myself especially to reduce the main symptoms of overwhelming tiredness and the muscle pains?”

A: ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), or chronic fatigue syndrome as it is often called, is a condition of debilitating tiredness with a combination of other symptoms including muscle pain, joint aches, depression and mental confusion.The cause is not known but many believe that it is a chronic viral infection. The aim is to support the immune system by cutting out any toxins and other substances that place a burden on the body. So caffeine, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, additives, preservatives all need to be eliminated. Avoiding sugar and yeast is important in order to keep the gut as healthy as possible. Your digestive system makes up a major part of the immune system so it is crucial that it is as healthy as possible to control viruses and bacteria.

You may consider testing to see whether you are allergic to gluten or dairy foods as eliminating these has been helpful in some people (see www.naturalhealthpractice.com to obtain these tests: Acute Allergy Screen Test, Food Intolerance Test, Gluten Intolerance Test). Have a good balanced diet including good quality protein like fish, beans and organic eggs.

Adding supplements can be beneficial and ones I would suggest are co-enzyme Q10 for energy, magnesium malate for muscles, Omega 3 oils for joint pains and mental function and a good probiotic for digestive health.

Q: “I have been taking digestive enzymes and found that they have been helpful in reducing heartburn and indigestion. I wondered whether I can stay on them long term?”

A: Digestive enzymes are substances that enable the food you eat to be broken down efficiently. As we get older, we can end up producing less digestive enzymes.

Your body is dependent on the food you eat in order to function correctly but in turn that food must be digested and absorbed efficiently in order to get the full benefit. It has been said that ‘you are what you eat’ but it is even truer to say ‘you are what you absorb’ because if you try to eat well and take vitamins and minerals but you can’t absorb them then they are being wasted. If you felt better taking the digestive enzymes then I would suggest you continue on them as they are helping your body absorb more of what it needs.

Q: “What’s the best way to eat less? I’ve tried every diet there is and I’m still not thin.”

A: The best answer is to eat more slowly. The feeling that you are hungry takes a while to die down, even when you are stuffing your mouth and stomach with food. If you eat fast, you get a lot more food inside you before you feel satisfied than if you eat more slowly. Take time to chew each mouthful of food before swallowing it and savour the last swallow before you pick up your fork again for the next mouthful. You may also want to change your mindset about food. Food isn’t your enemy; it’s your friend. It gives you energy and boosts your health and wellbeing. Instead of thinking about calories start thinking about nutrients and feeling healthy. If you can do that you’ll find that weight loss happens naturally as a wonderful side effect of healthy eating.